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David Stephens / Lindblad Expeditions
This rare leucistic Chinstrap penguin spotted in Antarctica on Monday lacks the standard black-and-white coloring of most penguins.
Yes, we know, we already posted today's photo of the day. But we liked this shot so much that we wanted to share it with you.
David Stephens, a naturalist aboard Lindblad Expeditions' National Geographic Explorer ship, photographed this rare white Chinstrap penguin on Monday on Antarctica's Aitcho Islands.
"At the water’s edge stood a leucistic Chinstrap," Stephens wrote in the ship's daily expedition report. "This bird was whitish, but not quite an albino. Instead, it had pigmented eyes and a washed-out version of a Chinstrap’s normal pattern. Many wondered about this unusual bird’s chances of success. While odd coloration may make fishing a bit more difficult, leucistic birds are regularly found breeding normally."
A leucistic bird has reduced pigmention, unlike a bird with albinism, which is a lack of skin pigment. The standard black-and-white coloring found on penguins serves as camouflage that aids the bird in fishing, so it's unusual to find a penguin without it.
“It is a fairly rare phenomenon,” said Dyan deNapoli, a penguin expert and author of "The Great Penguin Rescue," who added that the rate of leucism in Chinstrap penguins is about 1 in 146,000. "When I was in Antarctica, I never saw one, and I saw a lot of penguins."
Lindblad Expeditions is an expedition travel company in alliance with National Geographic. Its flagship, the National Geographic Explorer, accommodates 148 guest on voyages to the two polar regions and various nations. Each ship in the fleet carries National Geographic-certified photography instructors, who offer tips to passengers. Voyages focus on the wildlife, nature and culture.
The National Geographic Explorer is currently in the middle of a 14-day voyage to Antarctica.
"Expedition photography is a big component of our expeditions," said Patty Disken-Cahill, spokeswoman for Lindblad Expeditions. "The photography that comes out of our ships is pretty spectacular."
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Cool!!!
It happens , i have seen white alligators at silver springs . There usually a dark gray almost black not green like in the cartoons.
Here in the Philippines, there's a LG washer/dryer commercial showing the penguins are all white while waiting for their "suit" to be washed and dried. Pretty cool to see one in real life.
i guess if you seen one white penguin... you've seen them all...
Best. Response. EVER!! Thanks for the great laugh, Plain Bob : )
Really! LOL
It surprised me somewhat when the penguin expert stated that the rate of leucism is 1 in 146,000. I would have thought it to be even rarer than that but then again I'm no expert. Interesting.
Predator.....Drat, missed that one..... sigh... I hear it taste like chicken....
Other penguins..... amazing what one will do to get attention these days since Happy Feet.
Antartic ICE.....Papers please....
Racist....there goes the neighborhood....
I thought they all looked alike....
Polluter.... did I do that?
Alarmist..... the world is coming to an end, the world is coming to an end....
Fashionisto..... well gentlemen, it would appear that the all white suits is no longer for the tropics only, it definately can be worn in cold climates after all..... a big bird told me....
Laugh a little it lowers the blood pressure......
Peace....
Thats funny.
LOL.
thank you!
I was amused!
Lol. Thanks for the giggle BZ. It sure is a pretty little thing. Nice shade of tan.
Cool post!! Way to think on your "Happy Feet".
BZe1 you are an idiot.
Thanks for the laugh, BZe1.
HA! Reminded me of Steve Martin's list of ways in which his large nose was unique in "Roxanne" - Thanks!
cracker!!!
ha! ha! very funny
Misleading headline, it's frickin' brown and NOT white.
Salmonella... it is covered under the 'one drop' rule..... So one drop of non-black feathers then it is white.... ok? LOL
Anyhoo it may have been 'tanning' you know catching some rays.... a la Boehner.
Mind you in such an environment it probably wanted to stand out from the rest of the terrain.
Perhaps it is a male and its has prettied itself up in its mating feathers. LOL
On the other hand...why not just chill and admire the boo....?LOL
LOL, don't let it f**k your whole day up....
BZe1...Thanks for the much needed Laugh! Love the soft-looking bird (Penguin)...
Isn't it obvious, he didn't use enough sun screen...
awww....i was glad to hear that they still do well in the wild in spite of their color difference. nature has a way of sorting out it's weak and different, i'm glad this one will do just fine!!
PENGUIN. O3O
Penguins are one of my favorite animals, outside of cats and foxes. >3<
But if a cat or a fox eats a penguin, do they become your favorite animal "inside" of cats and foxes? Part chicken, part fish! Enjoy.
poor baby, I hope he can get his food like the other penguins, not having his dark black marking..? I'm all for animals being in their natural habitat, but maybe man, should intervene and take this poor baby to a beautiful zoo, where he will be sure to survive, being fed, again, he'd be better off with his friends in the wild, if his markings don't screw up his hunting skills, with his natural camouflage gone, to the sea's fish, god bless this little angel,
Why it gotta be white???? LOL
Because Purple is soooo Ravens. (Sorry Steelers Fans)
I think He's beatiful! Notice how white his feet are? I know they said he'd have a harder time hunting but is there any physical problems that he might have? Just wondering....
SOOOOOO CUTE!!!!!
Maybe im color blind but he looks like a BROWN penguin to me????
Sorry, but his back is brown, his front is white (like most penquins), and his feet are pink.
Next time ask the Kindergarten kid to tell you what color it is, instead of the left winger that only sees the world as "black" or "White".
Sorry, but somebody had to make an idiotic politically based statement, it's mandatory for a web comments section.
Now the headline reads: "Rare white penguin spotted in Antarctica"... so...
Where are the spots?
He looks like how my wife does laundry sometimes.
Beautiful!
Guess brown is the new white...
Now, let's see. The normal penguin is black and white. That rare penguin is brown and white. The difference in the two is not the white but the black and brown, yet they call it a rare white penguin. Interesting.
He doesn't look spotted to me.
Penguin stew anyone?
Actually, my question was going to be if the "white" in the title referred to it being "all white meat"?
Actually it's a very fatty, bloody meat. And their little flippers look funny when you dunk them in the hot grease. If you can get past the blood, fat, and fish taste they aren't bad!
if i could only shoot it .